Shiloh Reading Comprehension Questions
by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Part of the Shiloh series · Book 1 of 2
Book Summary
Marty Preston, an eleven-year-old boy, finds a scared beagle in the woods near his home in West Virginia. He names the dog Shiloh and quickly forms a deep bond with him. Marty soon discovers that Shiloh belongs to Judd Travers, a mean-spirited hunter known for mistreating his dogs. Marty is determined to protect Shiloh from Judd, even if it means lying to his parents and breaking rules. He hides Shiloh, but his secret is eventually revealed. After Shiloh is injured, Marty makes a deal with Judd: he will work for Judd doing chores for twenty hours to earn the right to keep Shiloh. Through hard work, moral dilemmas, and a bit of cleverness, Marty eventually earns Shiloh and learns important lessons about honesty, responsibility, and compassion.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Use these 14 questions to check understanding and spark deeper thinking about Shiloh.
1.What did Marty first find in the woods near his home?
2.Who was Shiloh's original owner before Marty made a deal to keep him?
3.What did Marty have to do to earn Shiloh from Judd Travers?
4.Why do you think Marty hid Shiloh from his parents at first?
5.How do you think Shiloh felt when he kept escaping from Judd and running back to Marty?
6.What does Marty's decision to work for Judd Travers tell you about how much he wanted Shiloh?
7.What lesson does Marty learn about honesty in the story?
8.What is one main idea the story teaches about caring for animals?
9.How did Marty's feelings about Judd Travers change from the beginning to the end of the story?
10.What does the word "skittish" mean when Marty first found Shiloh?
11.If Marty felt "miserable" when he had to return Shiloh, how was he feeling?
12.What does "pondered" mean when Marty pondered what he should do to keep Shiloh safe?
13.If you found a lost animal and knew its owner was not kind, what would you do? How would you decide what was the right thing to do?
14.Marty had to lie to protect Shiloh. Do you think it's ever okay to lie to help someone or something? Why or why not?
Key Vocabulary
Important words from Shiloh to discuss with your child.
Discussion Prompts
Great conversation starters for parents and teachers reading Shiloh with children.
What was your favorite part of Shiloh? Why did it stand out to you?
If you could talk to any character from Shiloh, who would you choose and what would you ask them?
How did Shiloh make you feel? Can you describe a moment that surprised you?
Would you recommend Shiloh to a friend? What would you tell them about it?
What lesson or message do you think Phyllis Reynolds Naylor wanted young readers to learn from this story?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What reading level is Shiloh?
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor is recommended for grades 1-3 readers with an AR level of 4.4. It's an excellent choice for building reading comprehension skills at this level.
What are good comprehension questions for Shiloh?
ReadBuddy provides 14 carefully crafted comprehension questions for Shiloh, covering literal comprehension, vocabulary, and inference skills. These questions help students engage deeply with the story.
How can I use Shiloh for reading practice?
Read the book together or independently, then use ReadBuddy's comprehension questions to check understanding. Focus on vocabulary words, discuss character motivations, and encourage your child to make connections to their own experiences.
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